Weekend Rain Not Enough to End Drought

Corn and other crops withered during a 2007 drought across the Delmarva Peninsula in 2007

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – Yes, some rain did finally fall over the weekend. No, the drought hasn’t been broken.

That’s according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Kramper.

“Unfortunately, you can’t just end a drought that quickly,” Kramper said. “Most locations need anywhere from like six to nine inches of rain to get the soil back to where it should be.”

Kramper says most of Sunday’s rain fell in the Metro East and points south with totals topping out at an inch or so, not enough to even put a dent in the ongoing drought.

One piece of good news is that a large area of high pressure which has been parked right over the Midwest for most of the summer has started moving off toward the southwest, helping to provide our current break from the scorching temperatures.